'Game of Thrones' actor Pedro Pascal ready to get 'bloody and naked' as Oberyn Martell

NEW YORK, April 4 (UPI) -- New Game of Thrones cast member Pedro Pascal says he is ready to get "bloody and naked" in the show's upcoming fourth season.

The 39-year-old actor will appear in the series for the first time as Oberyn Martell. The character is a Prince of Dorne, and is known as the "Red Viper." His sister, Elia, was brutally raped and murdered during events that precede the Game of Thrones timeline. Martell and his paramour, Ellaria Sand (Indira Varma), will appear on the show after the Prince arrives in King's Landing to claim his brother's small council seat and avenge Elia's death.

"It was surreal," Pascal tells MTV News of his addition to the show. "There was a little bit of a battle going in, because I had a job to do...while geeking out in my brain [about the set]."

The actor admits he wondered just "how bloody and naked [he] would be" in the series.

"I knew the territory was going to be pretty intense," Pascal continues. "I can't say that I was prepared... [but] when certain situations presented themselves that were really challenging physically, in terms of acting, or in terms of how much clothes I had on, I just jumped right in."

"I hadn't met Indira Varma," the actor recalls. "It was really exciting to meet her because I already admired her as an actress. It wasn't bad to have somebody as talented as her, who looks like her, by your side throughout the whole experience."

"I would like there to be a competition created for hottest Game of Thrones couple, and see how we do," Pascal jokes.

The fourth season of Game of Thrones will debut at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Sunday, April 6. The new season is roughly based on the second half of the third A Song of Ice and Fire novel, A Storm of Swords.

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